Classic Inca Trail 4 Days – 3Nights

Day 1: Cusco, Piscacucho (KM 82) – Canabamba – Llactapata – Huayllabamba – Ayapata

Today, you’re off on the trek of a lifetime, and you’ll need to be up early so your guide and driver can pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco between 4:30 and 5:00 am. If you’re in Urubamba, you’ll be collected between 5:30 and 6:00 am, and if you’re in Ollantaytambo, it’ll be between 6:30 and 7:00 am. From Cusco, you’ll head for one hour and a half a Ollantaytambo, where we’ll enjoy a scrumptious breakfast. Then, we’ll head Piscacucho – KM 82, the starting point of the hike. Here, we’ll meet the whole trekking team, consisting of cooks and porters. They’ll accompany you for the entire exciting adventure, along with your guide, to ensure you have the most fantastic time and take home some unforgettable memories from the sacred mountains.
Important: Remember, you’ll need your original passport here to pass the control point and enter the trail, so don’t forget it! The first couple hours of walking are relatively easy to help ease you into the tougher parts. We’ll stop in front of a small Inca site called Canabamba. Here, you’ll learn about the water canals and appreciate the spectacular glacier La Veronica.
Then, we’ll head to Wilkarakay and see the magical archaeological site of Llactapata, whose stone walls peek out amid the lush vegetation on the other side of the Urubamba River. We’ll continue for another 20 minutes to our lunch spot in Tarayoc. You’ll be amazed at the delicacies we’ve prepared for you in the middle of the mountains! This afternoon, you’ll keep hiking for another three and a half hours to our first campsite at Ayapata (3,300 m / 10,827 ft). Don’t worry if you forgot to pack some batteries for your camera or didn’t stock up on snacks and drinks; in this last section, we’ll pass by 2 small communities where you can buy any lastminute supplies.
We’ll get to our campsite around 5:00 pm. Here, you can rest your tired legs, relax, sip on a hot drink, and nibble on some snacks while you reflect on your first day’s hike. You’ll eat dinner around 7:30 pm and then head to bed for a good night’s rest before trekking again tomorrow.

Day Facts:

» MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
» ACCOMMODATION: Camp
» DIFFICULTY: Moderate
» WALKING DISTANCE: 14 km / 8.7 mi
» WALKING TIME: 6 to 7 hours
» STARTING ELEVATION: 2,700 m / 8,858 ft
» MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,620 m / 8,596 ft
» HIGHEST ELEVATION: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft
» CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft

Day 2: Ayapata – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayu – Sayaqmarka – Chaquiqocha

You’re in for another early start when we wake you up in your tents with a hot cup of coca tea. Coca has been consumed since the age of the Incas and is a great way to start the day and get rid of any altitude tiredness you might have. There’s a challenging day ahead and the most exhausting on the route. Make sure you enjoy all that’s on offer at breakfast to fill yourself with energy.
We’ll start hiking uphill for 4 hours to the highest point on the trek, the Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m / 13,829ft). From here, you’ll get the most amazing views of the immense mountains, so open up all your senses and soak it all in. You’ll feel the spirit of the ancient Incas who walked these paths hundreds of years ago and were at one with nature. We’ll then descend for one and a half hours to the other side of the valley, to Pacaymayu, where we’ll find our lunch spot. Remember, at every mealtime, you can fill up your water bottles.
After a tasty lunch, we’ll ascend for around 45 minutes to the Inca site of Runkurakay. We’ll take our time and explore this little complex, where you can observe two impressive waterfalls on the mountain lopes.
Then, we’ll continue uphill for another 45 minutes to the summit at Runkurakay Pass. You’ll rest here and enjoy the last beautiful views of the Andes section of the trek. This is an excellent spot to perform a small ceremony for Mother Earth and the mountains by leaving an offering.
Once we start walking again, we’ll go downhill for about an hour until we reach the next archaeological site of Sayaqmarka. It’s almost inaccessible but is well worth the visit. You’ll learn all about the site’s secrets from your knowledgeable guide as the sun descends and lights up the Vilcabamba mountain range with a red hue.
From there, you only have 25 more minutes to walk to our campsite for the night in Chaquiqocha (3,600m / 11,811 ft). After another fantastic meal, take the opportunity to observe the clear Andean sky and stars and learn about the constellations of the Incas. The sky at night in the mountains is truly a fantastic sight to behold.

Day Facts:

» MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
» ACCOMMODATION: Camp
» DIFFICULTY: Challenging
» WALKING DISTANCE: 16 km / 9.94 mi
» WALKING TIME: 8 to 9 hours
» STARTING ELEVATION: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft
» MINIMUM ELEVATION: 3,300 m / 10,827 ft
» HIGHEST ELEVATION: 4,215 m / 13,829 ft
» CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft

Day 3: Chaquiqocha – Phuyupatamarka – Intipata – Wiñay Wayna

Well done, you have overcome the most challenging day! Today a beautiful reward awaits you.
After a good night’s rest, you’ll wake up at 6:30 am giving you a bit of a lie-in. You’ll fill up on a hearty breakfast and then walk for an hour and a half. Embrace the greenery and fantastic landscape as the jungle begins to thicken. You’ll enjoy a stunning juxtaposition of the Salkantay glacier on one side and the jungle on the other. Allow yourself to be amazed at the panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range.
You’ll then ascend toward the final summit of the route in Phuyupatamarka (3,650 m / 11,975 ft), a mystical place above the clouds. Then, you’ll descend again for two and a half hours until we reach Intipata.
This is a significant agricultural place from which you can take in the impressive panoramic lookout over the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Urubamba River running through the middle like a serpent. Next is only another 30 more minutes of walking to our campsite, close to the Wiñay Wayna archaeological site. You’re now very close to the city of the Incas! You’ll arrive early enough to enjoy a welldeserved lunch before visiting the site. The name of the complex, Wiñay Wayna, means “forever young” and is considered one of the most impressive stops on the whole route.
You’ll explore the site for about an hour as your guide conjures images to bring it all to life. This makes it easy for you to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago and what the site would have looked like, full of life.
Back at camp, you’ll be spoiled with a small celebration with all your trekking team of guides, porters, and cooks. Take time to think about all they’ve done for you along the route. These guys work extremely hard to make you feel comfortable and relaxed daily. This is also the perfect opportunity to thank them with a tip as a sign of appreciation. You’ll also say goodbye to your porters here.
Afterward, it’s time to get to bed early to rest well, as you’ll be up at dawn the next day. Relax and contemplate all the amazing efforts you’ve made until now. Tomorrow you’ll visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We always like to arrive as early as possible so you can see the sunlight up the site as it rises, a magical spectacle sure to captivate your heart.

Day Facts:

» MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
» ACCOMMODATION: Camp
» DIFFICULTY: Moderate
» WALKING DISTANCE: 9 km / 5.6 mi
» WALKING TIME: 4 to 5 hours
» STARTING ELEVATION: 3,600 m / 11,811 ft
» MINIMUM ELEVATION: 2,650 m / 8,694 ft
» HIGHEST ELEVATION: 3,650 m / 11,975 ft
» CAMPSITE ELEVATION: 2,650 m / 8,694 ft

Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Sun Gate (Inti Punku) – Sanctuary of Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco

All your efforts over the last few days will be rewarded with the most amazing prize today. You’ll need to wake up today at 3:30 a.m. to ensure you get to the Sun Gate early to watch the sunrise. At 4:00 a.m., we’ll provide you with water and a boxed breakfast, and you’ll be on your way. We’ll be one of the first groups to cross the control point and walk an hour or so to the Sun Gate. Prepare yourself because once we’re there, you’ll get your first views of the incredible Inca architecture and engineering marvel.
Congratulations, you finally made it to Machu Picchu! Surrender to the sacred site that patiently awaitedyour arrival and will change something inside you. We will have a two-hour guided tour of the most remarkable points while your guide explains the fascinating history of the Incas and their mysteries.
As you wander around this creation, you’ll feel the intimate connection between humans and nature. You’ll see immense stones connecting harmoniously to form temples, alleys, houses, and aqueducts that still work over 5 centuries later. Machu Picchu was built in an inaccessible location to resist any attack and remind modern men that we can fully exist only in true communion with Mother Earth, Pachamama.
After the tour, you can climb Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu Mountain with pre-booked tickets. Then, you’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch in a restaurant of your choice and then board the train to Ollantaytambo. Tickets are usually booked for 14:55 hours, depending on availability, and you need to be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. Once you’re at your final train stop, our transport will be waiting for you to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco.

Day Facts:

» MEALS: Breakfast
» DIFFICULTY: Moderate
» WALKING DISTANCE TO MACHU PICCHU: 5 km / 3.1 mi
» WALKING TIME TO MACHU PICCHU: 2 to 3 hours
» STARTING ELEVATION: 2,650 m / 8,694 ft
» HIGHEST ELEVATION (SUN GATE): 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
» SUN GATE ELEVATION: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
» MACHU PICCHU INCA TOWN ELEVATION: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
» AGUAS CALIENTES ELEVATION: 2,040 m / 6,693 ft

At Pacha Peru, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistic, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.

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What Is Included?

» Permits & Entrance Tickets

• Permits and Ticket for the Inca Trail
We will secure all necessary permits once we receive your complete information and reservation deposit. Permits are subject to availability and are issued for a specific date and under your name. They cannot be changed under any circumstances. Changes in passport number are only permitted for renewal reasons. In that case, you must provide both your old and new passports.

• Entry Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site (Circuit 3)

»High Quality Service & Safety

• Pre-departure Briefing

You’ll have an orientation meeting with your guide the evening before the tour. The meeting is at 6:00 p.m. in your hotel.

• Experienced Tour Guide

Our official tour guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploring, and pride in sharing our culture and history. In every experience, they will keep you safe and comfortable so you can enjoy your time worry-free!

• Private Camping Equipment
• Tents: Spacious dining tents to enjoy your meals worry-free.
• Tables, chairs, and cooking equipment
• A Portable Travel Toilet
• Sleeping Pad

All equipment will be carried by our porters.

• One Duffle Bag

For the trek, you’ll receive a duffle bag to pack your personal belongings up to a
maximum weight of 7 kg / 15.4 lb (this weight includes your sleeping bag).

• Medical Kit or First AID Kit

All Pacha Peru guides have specialized first aid training and attend mandatory training sessions every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit and oxygen to handle basic emergencies (altitude sickness, diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.). If needed, we will evacuate you from the trail as quickly as possible and ensure you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

• Extras Included in our Service

We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your backpack on the road and a rain poncho.

• 24/7 Customer Service

We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Pacha Peru leading up to your tour.

• Satellite Phone

Your tranquility is our first priority. Although our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains, calling a doctor, hospital, or a friend can make you feel more secure.
For that reason, each Pacha Peru guide carries a satellite phone to call any location worldwide and from anywhere on the mountain.

»Accommodation

• 3 Nights Accommodation in Tents

Pacha Peru uses the best camping tents to ensure your safety and comfort.

» Meals

• 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, and 3 Dinners

Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost), so let us know if you have any particular allergies or restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks.

• Water on the trail

We’ll provide boiled, filtered, and cooled water during your hike. For this, you need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle, which you can refill during each meal (we recommend a capacity of 2 liters).

• Wake up tea

You’ll wake up every morning at the camp with a cup of hot coca tea! It’ll be brought to your tent so you can warm up before you start the day.

• Tea Time or Happy Hour

Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you with popcorn, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you won’t have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite!

• Snacks on the trail daily

Before starting your trek, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. Every morning, we’ll refill it so that you can enjoy your snacks during the walk.

» Transportation

• Transport

• Day 1: You’ll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel in our transportation to Piscacucho (KM 82), the starting point of the trek.
• Day 4: Bus Ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
• Day 4: Transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
• Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (Day 4)

      PeruRail Expedition Service

• Porters Team

Our Porters Team will carry all camping equipment and supplies needed for the trek. Additionally, we’ll include the personal service of a porter responsible for carrying your duffle bag and personal items.

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What Is Not Included?

» Sleeping Bag

You can rent one from our company if you don’t have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect you from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy-form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.

• US$ 20.00 per person

» Trekking Poles

Trekking Poles are very useful on rough and uneven terrain. If you’d like, you can rent a set from our company.

• US$ 20.00 per person

» Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco (Day 4)

» Travel Insurance

» Tips for our staff

Tipping is customary on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always appreciated, especially considering their hard work. Generally, group participants pool their tips and distribute them among the porters and cooks.

»Additional costs or delays beyond our control

Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act 8f God, etc.

ESSENTIALS:

• Passport
• Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
• Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)

FOR YOUR DUFFEL:

Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3.5 kg.

• 2-3 wicking t-shirts
• 2-3 hiking pants
• 4 sets of undergarments.
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
• Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least

TOILETRIES:

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Handsanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:

Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, bags larger than 25L will not be allowed in. If it is larger, you will need to store it outside citadel gates. But don´t worry, they have a secure storage facility.

• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
• Sunhat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (IPhone)
• Handsanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
• Earplugs

«The Classic Inca Trail» can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate in february
because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.

Price 2024

Group Price: US$ 760.00 per person
Required Pre-Payment: US$ 360.00 per person
Balance (Cusco): US$ 400.00 (commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).

This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.

Notice that Paypal and we travel charge a 6% fee for the use of their secure payment gateway. This tax is just for online and card payments. You can also pay the remaining balance in cash (the briefing day) without charges.

Extra Equipment

Additional items you can rent for this trip:

Sleeping Bag: US$ 20.00
Trekking Poles (pair): US$ 20.00

Add-ons & Upgrades

Complementary services and upgrades you can include in this trip:

Huayna Picchu Mountain: US$ 60.00
Machu Picchu Mountain: US$ 60.00
Vistadome Train (Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo): US$ 100.00

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. so please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.

Student Discount

US$ 20.00 off

Studemt Discounts apply to anyone 17 years old or younger. To receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of the passport at the time of booking. It must be valid and not expire within the travel dates. Please send it to contact@pachaperu.tours